Nobbys Headland and Lighthouse and Newcastle Maritime Museum will receive $39,000 and $64,820 respectively in NSW Government heritage grants to support projects which increase community interaction and participation with publicly accessibly heritage items, Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald MLC announced today.

At Nobbys Headland, the grant will go to Newcastle Business Improvement Association to plan for income generation and re-investment, define important themes and activation options (consulting with key story-owners), and plan flexible interpretive spaces at Nobbys Headland.

At Newcastle Maritime Museum the grant will go towards The Re-Animation project using a 360°-3D virtual reality exhibit to bring in a new generation of visitors to the Newcastle Maritime Centre Museum.

The grants were awarded under the latest round of the Government’s Heritage Near Me Activation Grants Program.

Mr MacDonald said this grants program provided support to heritage items that were open to the public.

“This funding doesn’t only mean we can invest in protecting and preserving our local heritage but it means we’re giving more people the opportunity to appreciate their local history,” Mr MacDonald said.

“These grants acknowledge and support the vital role owners and managers of locally listed heritage items play in protecting our local heritage.”

Heritage Minister Gabrielle Upton said the funding was designed for local government, businesses and community organisations to reactivate and preserve local heritage spaces and precincts.

“This funding will help communities build on the knowledge they have with their heritage. Nobody knows their heritage better than the locals who live and breathe it,” Ms Upton said.

The Heritage Activation Grants, which are part of the Heritage Near Me program, are specifically for items listed on council Local Environmental Plans.